Purpose: Older adults treated with oral anticancer agents may have several needs related to managing their treatment at home. Moreover, the experiences of older adults engaging in self-care have been poorly investigated. This study aimed to explore and describe self-care behaviours in older adults treated with oral anticancer agents.Method: This is a qualitative study using content analysis with both a deductive and an inductive approach. Guided by the Middle-Range Theory of Self-Care of Chronic Illness, we explored the three theoretical dimensions of self-care maintenance (i.e., behaviours to maintain illness stability), self-care monitoring (i.e., behaviours to monitor signs and symptoms) and self-care management (i.e., responses to signs and symptoms). Patients over 70 years of age who were treated with oral anticancer agents for at least 3 months were interviewed.Results: We enrolled 22 participants (13 males), age range: 70-87 years. Nine categories emerged within the three identified dimensions-self-care maintenance: medication adherence, dietary adaptations and physical activity; self-care monitoring: general health status, cancer monitoring, sign and symptom recognition and attending visits; and self-care management: oral anticancer agent side effects management and illness management.Conclusions: Self-care is a growing area in cancer research. However, it is poorly understood among older patients taking oral anticancer agents. Oncology nurses can play a pivotal role in evaluating and supporting self-care behaviours, educating patients to effectively implement correct self-care behaviours and ensuring positive outcomes for these patients. Further research is needed to establish appropriate interventions to improve self-care in older patients taking oral anticancer agents.

Di Nitto, M., Sollazzo, F., Biagioli, V., Torino, F., Alvaro, R., Vellone, E., et al. (2022). Self-care behaviours in older adults treated with oral anticancer agents: A qualitative descriptive study. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY NURSING, 58, 102139 [10.1016/j.ejon.2022.102139].

Self-care behaviours in older adults treated with oral anticancer agents: A qualitative descriptive study

Biagioli, Valentina;Torino, Francesco;Alvaro, Rosaria;Vellone, Ercole;Durante, Angela
2022-06-01

Abstract

Purpose: Older adults treated with oral anticancer agents may have several needs related to managing their treatment at home. Moreover, the experiences of older adults engaging in self-care have been poorly investigated. This study aimed to explore and describe self-care behaviours in older adults treated with oral anticancer agents.Method: This is a qualitative study using content analysis with both a deductive and an inductive approach. Guided by the Middle-Range Theory of Self-Care of Chronic Illness, we explored the three theoretical dimensions of self-care maintenance (i.e., behaviours to maintain illness stability), self-care monitoring (i.e., behaviours to monitor signs and symptoms) and self-care management (i.e., responses to signs and symptoms). Patients over 70 years of age who were treated with oral anticancer agents for at least 3 months were interviewed.Results: We enrolled 22 participants (13 males), age range: 70-87 years. Nine categories emerged within the three identified dimensions-self-care maintenance: medication adherence, dietary adaptations and physical activity; self-care monitoring: general health status, cancer monitoring, sign and symptom recognition and attending visits; and self-care management: oral anticancer agent side effects management and illness management.Conclusions: Self-care is a growing area in cancer research. However, it is poorly understood among older patients taking oral anticancer agents. Oncology nurses can play a pivotal role in evaluating and supporting self-care behaviours, educating patients to effectively implement correct self-care behaviours and ensuring positive outcomes for these patients. Further research is needed to establish appropriate interventions to improve self-care in older patients taking oral anticancer agents.
giu-2022
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Esperti anonimi
Settore MED/45 - SCIENZE INFERMIERISTICHE GENERALI, CLINICHE E PEDIATRICHE
Settore MED/06 - ONCOLOGIA MEDICA
English
Adverse effects
Aging
Neoplasms
Oncology nursing
Oral anticancer agents
Qualitative research
Self-care
Self-management
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Humans
Male
Medication Adherence
Qualitative Research
Self Care
Antineoplastic Agents
Neoplasms
Di Nitto, M., Sollazzo, F., Biagioli, V., Torino, F., Alvaro, R., Vellone, E., et al. (2022). Self-care behaviours in older adults treated with oral anticancer agents: A qualitative descriptive study. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY NURSING, 58, 102139 [10.1016/j.ejon.2022.102139].
Di Nitto, M; Sollazzo, F; Biagioli, V; Torino, F; Alvaro, R; Vellone, E; Durante, A
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/306956
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